Amsterdam is the capital and largest city in The Netherlands, a city of canals, international works of art, cool architecture, wooden shoes, and low lying fields full of blooming tulips. Julie and I flew direct from Houston, landing at 9:20 on a sunny Monday morning. A quick and easy train from the airport to the central train station and a five-minute walk brought us to Mai Amsterdam Hotel, our home for the next three days.
This was my first visit to Amsterdam (Julie had been once before during her college days). We were both excited about exploring this historic city. Plans for the next three days included a walking tour, a boat tour through the canals, a bike tour, the Rijksmuseum, and exploring throughout the city. Amsterdam was the first stop in our 17-day adventure in Europe. Read our other articles and videos in PlayStayEat.com that cover our time in Germany, Reims, Epernay, and Paris.
Walking Tours with Guru Walks and FreeDam Tours
We started our time in Amsterdam with a walking tour of the city with Guru Walks and FreeDam Tours. This two-and-a-half-hour tour, the Absolutely Amsterdam Tour, was a wonderful introduction to the city to familiarize us with landmarks and some of the intriguing history of the area. Guru Walks is the world’s largest free walking tour communities, where those on the tour pay whatever they feel the tour is worth to them. Some pay nothing, but most pay a reasonable amount. I’ve been on many free tours throughout the world, and have found that most have been very well done and worth the time and the voluntary contribution to the guide.
Rijksmuseum
Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer are housed in a stunning Neo-Gothic building at this world-famous museum. We took the metro from the central train station to the Vijzelgracht stop, which was a short walk to the museum. Opened in 1885, the Rijksmuseum highlights 800 years of Dutch masters, art, and culture.
The iconic The Night Watch by Rembrandt is one of the most famous and recognizable paintings in the museum. When we visited, The Night Watch was undergoing an intensive restoration. Behind glass walls, we could still see most of this large landmark work noted for its composition and use of light.
The large stained glass windows were also impressive. We enjoyed learning more about the paintings, ceramics, furniture, and other artifacts at this fascinating museum. We spent several enjoyable hours browsing the many exhibits and works of art.
We did not visit the nearby Van Gogh Museum, but we did see several works by Van Gogh and other well-known impressionists of the day.
Anne Frank House and History of the Jewish Destruction
As one would expect, the Anne Frank House was at the top of our list of things to do in Amsterdam. This famous museum is well done, with an introduction by a knowledgeable guide providing insightful narratives and visual aids to tell the story of this amazing Jewish teenager. After the in person introduction, we toured the house with an audio guide that allowed us to proceed at our own pace.
The story of the holocaust must continue to be told and shared. I appreciated the historic and human importance of Anne Frank’s story as depicted by the thoughtful exhibits in this museum. The Anne Frank House provides a powerful, moving experience in the secret annex. No matter how many times I am reminded of the horrors of the Nazi’s extermination of millions of innocents, I get the same sick feeling in my gut that I felt when I visited Dachau, other holocaust memorials, or read a book or see a movie detailing those terrible times.
Never again.
Canal Cruise in “The Venice of the North” with The Tour Guy
Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North because of its numerous canals. One of the best ways to see the city is from these historic canals on one of the numerous boat tours offered in the city. We booked a boat and bike tour through The Tour Guy, which has a partnership with Captain Jack Amsterdam boat tours. The smaller boat, which carried about 20 people, was just the right size. Our skipper, Jean Pierre, was a fun and knowledgeable guide, as he steered us through numerous canals while narrating an interesting description of our path through Amsterdam.
Bike Tour in the Land of Bikes with The Tour Guy
As part of the package from The Tour Guy, the bike portion of tickets consisted of a fun two and a half hour bike ride through the streets of Amsterdam. Starting at the bike rental near the main train station, our group of eight followed our wonderful guide. We started alongside the harbor, crossing a bridge and viewing an old restored sailing vessel among other boats. We stopped in a Jewish neighborhood, where our guide showed us a set of four brass markers, or Stolpersteine, indicating the location of a Jewish family who had been removed by the Nazis. Created by German artist Gunter Deming, over 100,000 of these stones have been installed across Europe.
One on my favorite stops was the the fabulous Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest park. With over a million visitors every year, Vondelpark is a favorite of both locals and tourists. This sprawling 120 acre green space is a magnet for hiking, biking, and picnicking. There are also many cafes, art sculptures (including one by Picasso), and an open-air theater.
Quirky Museums
In addition to the Rijksmusem, Amsterdam is home to the Moco Museum, housing modern, contemporary, and street art (think Banksy, Warhol). The NEMO Science Museum is fun for families or curious minds, while at the Houseboat Museum visitors can step inside a real canal houseboat! And if you are interested in a closer look into the Red Light District’s history, check out the Red Light Secrets Museum.
Food and Drink in Amsterdam
Amsterdam offers a wide variety of food and drink. Some of the popular Dutch dishes include Stroopwafels, a confection that is fresh, gooey, and irresistible. Dutch Pancakes, which remind me of crepes, can be sweet or savory! If you are brave you can try the Herring stands, a must-try Dutch tradition. Brown Cafés are cozy traditional pubs with local beers. And, of course, don’t forget the infamous coffee houses where you can pick up some weed or light snacks.
We were told that, while marijuana is technically illegal, recreational use is usually tolerated throughout Amsterdam. We did not test this premise, but did get a few whiffs as we walked the streets.
Omelegg Breakfast Restaurant
One of our favorite restaurants, Omelegg, was only minutes from our hotel. We loved it so much that we returned for a second visit during our three days in Amsterdam. Their delicious dishes are prepared with fresh free-range eggs, and they do not add any cream or milk to the eggs, so they are always Lactose-free.
Omelegg has three locations in Amsterdam (a fourth location closed in Berlin during Covid), and team members have cracked over 4,000,000 eggs since 2013. Julie and I shared the large Farm Boy Omelette consisting of bacon, ham, pulled chicken, mushrooms, onion, spinach, bell pepper, tomato, farmer cheese, thyme, and rosemary. Yum! With a side of grilled brown bread and a croissant with Nutella and freshly brewed coffee, we had our best breakfast in Amsterdam at Omelegg.
As they advertise, Omelegg is the place to “Get Your Egg On!”
Long Pura Indonesian Restaurant
Long Pura Indonesian Restaurant is a very popular restaurant just minutes away from the Anne Frank Museum in the Jordaan neighborhood. Long Pura, housed in a building built in 1636, serves authentic traditional Indonesian food in a gorgeous, modern interior. The very popular rice table menus are based on recipes going back hundreds of years.
Long Pura was recommended by our friendly server at a small café where we enjoyed beer and snacks before our tour of the Anne Frank Museum. We loved the flavors and aromas of the eight main dishes, three side dishes, and a large serving of steaming hot rice. Tender, flavorful meat dishes included beef, lamb, and chicken selections along with various vegetables, roasted coconut with peanuts, and soy beans in chili sauce.
Each dish was delicious, and the servings were plenty to fill us up and satisfy our appetites. For a very reasonable 31 Euros per person, this 1-course Rice Table at Long Pura is highly recommended for a tasty experience.
Visit Amsterdam, “The Venice of the North”
Whether floating on the canals, biking through neighborhoods, or walking the sidewalks, tourists are treated to a delightful experience in lovely Amsterdam.
Thanks to The Tour Guy for hosting us on our bike and boat tours.
